Rocking horse



June 21, 1949. J, RANSOM 2,474,114

ROCKING HORSE Filed Dec. 22, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR l Jac/r,Qa/750m June 21, 1949. J, RANSQM` 2,474,114

l nocKING HORSE Filed Dec. 22. 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i INVENToR.

j' JACK RANSOH i ATTORN EY Patented June 21, 1949 ROCKING HORSE JackRansom, Cardin", Wales, assignor of onethird to Eric Sanders, Dunnngton,and onethird to Ernest Geoirey Helliwell, Tettenhall,

England Application December 22, 1945, Serial No. 636,854 In GreatBritain November 17, 1945 Claims. 1

This invention has reference to improvements connected with rockinghorses, and has for its object the provision of means whereby thesimulation of a riding action on the saddle of the rocking horseactuates means for automatically propelling the rocking horse on itswheeled support, which includes means for steering the device.

The invention consists of a rocking horse pivotally mounted by means ofa framework on a wheeled base incorporating mechanism whereby uponimpartation to the body of the horse of a rocking motion about the saidpivot there is effected a positive traverse of the device on its wheeledsupport; means may also be provided for steering the device.

The invention in a preferred form will now be described with particularreference to the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the complete device.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional elevation to an enlarged scale taken throughthe axis of the propulsion mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of part of the mechanism seen in Fig. 2 withone half of the casing removed.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the wheeled base on an enlarged scale and withthe figure of the horse being shown only in dotted lines.

The body of the device comprises a model of a rocking horse a formed andshaped from wood or other suitable material in accordance with generalpractice. This body is mounted by means of a transverse pivot rod b onthe apex of a triangulated frame c, the base member of which supports bymeans of brackets the axle d on which is mounted a pair of wheels e. Thebase member of the framework also constitutes a mounting by means of endsockets c1 c2 for castor wheels f and y respectively. Pivotallyconnected by means of pins h to the underside of the body of the rockinghorse are a pair of links i gl which at their lower ends are pivotallyconnected to lugs k2 integrally extending from Separate half flangedcasings lc k1 which surround and contain a gapped disc Z which is keyedor bolted to the axle d.

Located in the gaps Z1 of the disc l are balls or rollers m whichconstitute anti-friction oneway coupling means between the inner side ofthe anged peripheries of the casings k 7:1 and the bases of the gaps Z1in the disc l, these bases being slightly tapered or inclined to providea wedging effect for the balls or rollers my between the inner peripheryof the flanges of the casings lc k1 and the disc Z on a forwardrotational motion being imparted to the casings 7c or k1 as will behereinafter described. This method of transmission is similar to thatemployed in certain free wheel hub braking devices associated with pedalcycles. Intermediate the two half casings 7c k1 is a spacing ring nwhich serves to separate the respective series of balls or rollers m(see particularlir Fig. 2). Retaining discs o are mounted about andsecured to the axle d for the purpose of accurately positioning thecasings 1c k1 and the parts contained therein,

Mounted on the body of the horse a is a saddle p from which is suspendeda pair of stirrups q. Reins and bridle r may be extended as indicated bythe lines r1 to a crossbar s which is mounted on the socket c1 carryingthe forward castor wheel f whereby a steering motion may be imparted tothe device when desired. Obviously this steering motion may be dispensedwith or other means may be employed for effecting a similar purpose.

Further it will be appreciated that other oneway forward drive mechanismmay be substituted for the ball or roller mechanism described; by way ofexample a pawl and ratchet ywheel oneway mechanism may be substituted.

It will be obvious that when the rider imparts a forward motion to hisbody the rocking horse will rock the head section downwardly about thepivotal rod b. This pivotal motion of the body of the rocking horsetransmits a pull or upward motion to the link 9'1 which in turntransmits a rotational motion in a forward direction to the half casingk1 to which it is attached. This rotational motion of the half casingimparts a forward traverse to the series of balls m located intermediatethis half casing and the gapped disc l with the result that a determinedintermittent rotational motion is imparted from the disc Z to the axle dand therefrom to the pair of Wheels e. Simultaneous with the upwardmotion of the link jl a downward and rearward motion is imparted to thelink y and therefrom to the half casing k, thus freeing the balls m inthis half casing lc. Likewise if a rearward motion of the rider mountedon the saddle p is imparted to the body of the rocking horse a acontra-wise motion of the links g' 7'1 and of the casings lc k1 willrespectively obtain as will be readily appreciated without furtherdescription.

The term rocking horse used herein is deemed to be applicable ifcircumstances so require to other forms of rockable devices desirably ofthe toy animal character, by way of example the formation of the body ofthe device might simulate a camel.

I claim:

1. A self-propelled childs vehicle comprising, in combination, a wheeledbase having a drive shaft journaled near its center, at least onedriving wheel on said shaft, a framework erected on said base, anyxanimal figure rockingly Ymoun-tedon said framework at a. .pointabove-said` shaft, a uni-directional clutch comprising a driven membermounted on said shaft and driving members rotatably journaled relativeto said driven member, rolling elements frictionally engageable'betweensaid driving and driven memberswhen said driving members are rotated,in` a .for-ward'motion producing direction, andfatleastiwoi'flinkslconnecting said figure to said driving members ofsaid clutch, the upper ends of said links being pivotally connected tosaid'animal'gureatpoints spaced laterally from the pointo'frocking'mounting of said animal figure on said framework,the lowerends of said links being pivotally connected to.saiddriving. members,whereby yrockingmovenient Ofsaidanimal gureoscillates said-drivingmembers andproduces forward yrotation `of-said driven -member andmotionof the vehicle.

l 2. A .self-propelled childs .vehicle comprising, yin combination, awheeled'base, ananimal figure rockingly mounted on a horizontalaxisabove said base, ashaftjournaled. on -said base belowthe rocking.mounting of said figure, a'drivewheel on said shaft, a uni-directionalclutch on.said shaft,

said clutch comprising a driven disc havinga'plm ralitycfcircumferentially extending recesses in its peripheryr driving membershaving circular flanges .circumjacentthe periphery of saidv disc anda-.plurality of rolling elements, one in each of saidlrecesses, theradial depth of each of Ysaid re- -eesses`lbelow said `ianges being lessthan the diameterrlof said rollingfelements at its forward endand morethan-y theldiameter of said. rolling elements atv its rearward end, andlinkspivotally.

cumferentially. extending peripheralrecesses, a

rolling element in` each of. said.recessesfrotatably mounted vcircularfianged members-circumjacent `said disc, the depth vof each recessbelowthe circular anges being less' than the diameter of the rolling elementat itsforw'ard end andv more than the"diameter of-the v'rolling/elementat its-.regarward'end, vand linkage connectedbetween points on saidfigure laterally spacedfrom the mounting a() thereof. and'said angedmembers.

- 4;!Drive means for a self-propelled childs vehavingciroumferentiallyi-extending Irecesses in its periphery, drivingclutchfimembers Ehaving annular anges circumjacent the periphery of saidffdriven member, a plurality of rolling elements one in each of saidrecesses, the depth of each of said recesses beneath said flanges beingless than thediameter-offone of said elements at one end Yandmorelthanthe"diameter of said elements at thehotherendgand a pair oflink bars pivotally connected'atoneend to said figure forward and behindits point of rocking mounting and piv- "Jotally'conn'ectedto' saiddriving clutch members atthev other'ends.

5-. A nself-propelled childs vehicle comprising, in combination, awheeled base having a drive shaft journaled ,near its. center, atleastone :driv- `ing wheel on 's"aid-"shaftv a Yframework erected on saidbase., anianimal yfigure rockingly.. mounted on ,said frameworkat.a-poinu above-said shaft, a uni-directional." clutchv comprising. a.driven .mem-

J bermou'ntedonfsaid shaft` and driving members rotatablyjournaledrelative toi said,drivenmem ber, means-'for operatively.connectingsaiddriving memb'erswithisaid. drivenimember when. said `'driving,membersarerotat'edin a forwardfmotion i producing' directoniand. for,operatively disconf, 'nec'ting 'said members 'ont return lrotationofsaid zldriving. members, vand f at` leastwtwo links. -conne'ctingsaid-'figure to sa'idfdriving members of said clutch, the upper endsofsaidrlinks .being hpivotally connected -to. said;'lanirriaLiigure atpoints spaced laterally. from the pointV ofrocking mounting ofisaidanimaljgure lon" said-frame work, the lower ends' ofsaid ;1inks` be'ing,pivotally tion of said driven memberl andmotionjofthe vehicle.

'JACK `'RANSOM- CITED The followingreferenlcesl farefof record.- in.Athe fileV lofl this patent:

